When Nora lends Leo a book and Leo lends Nora one, the action goes both ways. Each other expresses that relationship without repeating both statements.

The idea

Use each other or one another for reciprocal actions involving two or more people. Both can refer to a pair or a larger group. For possession, add 's: each other's answers.

Examples

  • Nora and Leo lent each other a book.
  • The neighbours greet one another at the gate.
  • We checked each other's answers.
  • The two teams congratulated each other.
  • You can learn from one another.
  • The dancers faced each other.

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Watch out

Themselves directs an action back to the people doing it; each other directs it between them. Write each other as two words, without a plural s. Possessive each other's is a different form.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the correct option. Nora greets Leo. Leo greets Nora. They greet ___. (each other / themselves)

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    each other

    each other shows that Nora greets Leo and Leo greets Nora; the action is reciprocal.

  2. Choose the correct option. We checked ___ answers. (each other's / each others')

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    each other's

    each other's is the possessive form. The apostrophe comes before s, even with plural answers.

  3. Choose the correct option. Each dancer said their own name. The dancers introduced ___. (themselves / each other)

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    themselves

    themselves matches each dancer giving their own introduction. Each other would mean introducing another dancer.

Use it today

Describe two friends exchanging messages and classmates checking another person's work. Then describe each person doing something for themselves, making the difference clear.